Aldert Vermeulen
13 August 1914 – 25 March 1945

Wim Vermeulen
29 June 1921 – 25 March 1945

Vermeulen
brothersAldert Vermeulen, 13 August 1914 – 25 March 1945
Wim Vermeulen, 29 June 1921 – 25 March 1945
Old General Cemetery, Prins Mauritsstraat, Bredevoort

Wim Vermeulen from Amsterdam was in hiding in Barlo with H. Wevers on the Lichtenvoordsestraatweg next to the Dorsvereniging, now C.W.V. (Chr. Coöperatieve Werktuigenvereniging Barlo).

It was Sunday, March 25, 1945, Palm Sunday! Aldert Vermeulen visited his younger brother Wim. Daylight saving time had started a day earlier and they decided to take a walk this morning. No doubt they will have talked about the imminent liberation now that the front was so close. They were walking on the Bolwerkweg when suddenly a Jabo (Allied fighter-bomber) dived down. Although the boys still tried to take cover in a ditch, they were fired upon and badly hit.

Wim died on the spot and Aldert was seriously injured and brought to the farm of Jan and Mina Heijerman on the Bolwerkweg. It was clear that Aldert was dying. He asked Jan Heijerman if he would read a Bible text from Romans 8.

Two days later, the family came to Aalten. They knew that Wim was staying in Barlo, but were unaware of where Aldert was staying. The loss was extra hard when they learned that Aldert had also lost his life.

The two brothers died in sight of liberation and were buried a few days later, far from home, in Bredevoort.

Sources:
Dwars door Barlo: Authors Thea Onnink-Stonks and Aleid Bongen-Luiten
Photos: © collection of the Ligterink family, Barlo
Letter from Miep de Wit-Folkertsma, evacuee at Farmer Heijerman (in which she testifies to this event).
Archive: © Nationaal Onderduikmuseum Aalten

Aldert Vermeulen
13 August 1914 – 25 March 1945
Old General Cemetery, Prins Mauritsstraat, Bredevoort

Wim Vermeulen
29 June 1921 – 25 March 1945
Old General Cemetery, Prins Mauritsstraat, Bredevoort

Bulwark road with visible bullet holes.

Farm of Jan and Mina Heijerman on the Bolwerkweg.